As thoughts turn eagerly to the possibility of spring and the promise of something green in the garden, here's another bit of recycling from Cat Musings while I I try to meet deadlines elsewhere!

The rest of the book is selective but interesting. My personal favourite is a section entitled The sloth's vegetable garden, which offers suggestions for creating a perennial vegetable patch. I shall be turning to this over the coming weeks while I plan this year's crops. The emphasis throughout is on traditional and forgotten varieties, and it would provide an excellent starting place for establishing a historically-themed garden. Brief cultivation details are given for each type of plant, and even pruning instructions for fruit are included. The back-and-white illustrations are clear and come from an entertaining variety of sources.
Long out of print, it is nonetheless readily, and cheaply, available from the various second-hand book sites (including for 1p on Amazon). Primarily intended to encourage a growing interest in cultivated plants which are threatened by new regulations, this is a book which still meets its purpose and would make a good introduction for any new gardener who would rather spend their money on seeds than on glossy coffee-table books.
This looks a very useful and readable book. I am all for preserving or re-introducing old "forgotten" types of plants, and races of animals such as cows and pigs.
ReplyDeleteIt's very short but has some nice ideas - one of the reasons I've decided that I'm going to go back to rare-breed chickens next time I have to get some more.
DeleteThe notion of a sloth's vegetable garden is most enticing! I must look out for this book.
ReplyDeleteThe sloth's garden would definitely suit me :-)
DeleteI like the idea of the traditional garden, as well as heirloom varieties of flowers. My focus on my own is on a bee and butterfly friendly garden. I definitely have to see if I can find this book! Thanks so much for the review, Geranium Cat.
ReplyDeleteAs I write this, a snow flurry is circling around the house. Winter is still here too!
Your photos of your garden look lovely, Susan. I do wish winter would go, it's freezing here today.
ReplyDelete